Snap-lock device for interchanging jewelry



y 19, 1964 e. MARTICORENA 3,133,331

SNAP-LOCK DEVICE FOR INTERCHANGING JEWELRY Filed April 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GASTON MARTICORENA May 19, 1964 MARTICORENA SNAP'LOCK DEVICE FOR INTERCHANGING JEWELRY Filed April 8, 1963 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GASTON MARTICORENA United States Patent l 3,133,331 SNAP-NECK DEVEQE FUR INTERCHANGING .IEWEILRY Gaston ltiarticorena, 4246 43th St, New York 36, NE. Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,253 4 Claims. (Ci. 24-230) This invention concerns a snap-lock device for interchanging precious stones, ornaments and the like upon a mounting.

According to the invention a generally U-shaped clasp is provided with a hinged tongue. The clasp can be mounted upon any suitable stone, charm or other ornament. An apertured block is provided for engagement by the clasp. The block can be embedded in a ring or other mounting so that the ornament can be detachably secured to the mounting. Thus, a single mounting can be employed for a variety of ornaments.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to pro vide ornamental jewelry of various types with a clasp which will engage a retainer block carried by a mounting member.

A further object is to provide a snap-lock device for interchanging jewelry which includes a U-shaped clasp having a hinged tongue and an apertured retainer block which receives the tongue and is locked into the clasp thereby.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a clasp and retainer block in closed, engaged position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the clasp in open position and the block separated therefrom.

FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevational view of the open clasp and block.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a jeweled ornament and ring provided with the clasp and block respectively according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ornament and ring of FIG. 5 with the ornament locked on the ring.

FIG. 7 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6. i

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another ornament with clasp thereon engaged with a chain.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4 the snap-lock device 10 which includes a clasp 12 and retainer block 14. The clasp 12 has a generally rectangular U-shape with a flat, rectangular back wall 16 and two upstanding lateral walls 18, 20. Wall 18 is perforated and provided with an inwardly bent catch element 22. This element has a widened head portion 24 at its'free end and narrower neck portion 25; see FIG. 3.

At the free end of wall 20 is a pintle 26 on which is hinged cylindrical sleeve 30. Integral with sleeve 30 is a split or bifurcated tongue 32 having two sections 33 each provided with an indentation 34 at its inner free end. The tongue sections 33 are joined only by a bight or yoke portion 35 at sleeve 30 so that the sections 33 can flex slightly at the yoke 35. When the clasp is closed the sections 33 spread and engage head portion 24 of the catch element 22. The tongue sections are rotated inwardly as indicated by arrows A and A in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. The head portion 24 of the catch element 22 engages the free ends of the tongue sections at indentations 34. The tongue sections thus snap into locking position with respect to the catch element 22.

3,133,331 Patented May 19, I964 The retainer block 14 has flat opposing rectangular end walls 40 opposite side faces 42, 44, fiat side face 46 and opposite side face 48. A rectangular aperture 56 extends entirely through the block between faces 46, 48. Two aligned notches 52, 54 are formed at face 48 communicating with aperture 50. A rectangular groove 55 is formed in face 44. This groove is centrally located and extends between faces 46, 48. The tongue 32 extends through aperture 50 and the free ends of the tongue sections 33 extend outwardly of face 48 of the block for engaging head portion 24 of the catch element.

When the block 14 is fully engaged with tongue 32 and the block is rotated 90 from the solid line position of FIG. 4, to the dotted line position, back wall 16 of clasp 12 seats in groove 55 as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The notches 52, $4 provide clearance for catch element 22 as the block is rotated between open and closed positions of the clasp.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show clasp 12 mounted on the back of a jeweled ornament 60. This ornament has a backing plate 62 to which the clasp is secured by Welding or solder 64. Back wall 16 abuts the plate 62. A jewel 65 is secured on the outer side of plate 62. The ornament is mounted upon a mounting ring which has a retainer block 14 embedded therein. End walls 40 40 of the block abut facing ends of the ring. The groove 55 in wall 44 faces outwardly of the block and ring. In FIG. 5 the ring is shown disposed in a vertical plane. Aperture St is horizontal and in position to receive horizontal tongue 32. After engagement of the tongue in the block, the ring and block are rotated to the position of FIGS. 6 and 7. The ring is horizontal. Back wall 16 is seated in groove 55 and wall 44 faces the plate 62. The head 24 of catch 22 is engaged with the ends of tongue sections 33.

If it is desired to change the ornament, the ring 7% is rotated 90 with respect to the ornament to disengage the tongue from catch element 22. The ornament is separated from the retainer block 14 by pulling the tongue 32 out of the block. Another ornament having another clasp 12 thereon can be mounted on ring 70. Alternatively, a different ring provided With a retainer block 14 can be substituted for the ring 70. Thus the invention provides means for interchanging both mountings and ornaments.

It is possible, if desired, to interchange the mounting of clasp and block so that the block is mounted on the ornament and the clasp is mounted on the mounting ring. In such an arrangement, face 42 of the block 14 would be attached to the ornament plate 62 while back wall 16 of the clasp would be attached to the mounting ring. In such an arrangement it would not be necessary to split ring 76 to insert the clasp since the clasp would be attached to a side portion of the ring. In any case, the block and clasp would be readily engageable and disengageable for interchanging ornaments and mountings as may be desired.

In FIG. 8, a clasp 12 is shown mounted on the back of an ornament Si) by solder 31. A chain 82 is engaged in the clasp and is held between walls 16, 18, 20 by tongue 32 engaged with catch element 22. To attach ornament 8%) to ring 70, the hinged tongue 32 would be opened to release the chain and the tongue 32 would be engaged with block 14 of ring 76 as shown in FIGS. 5-7.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

1. A snap-lock device for interchanging a jewelry or- 83 nament and mounting, comprising a clasp member including a generally U-shaped frame with a back wall and outwardly extending opposing lateral walls, a catch element extending inwardly of said frame from one of said opposing lateral walls, said catch element having a free head end, a tongue having one end hinged to the other of said opposing lateral walls, said tongue having split sections flexibly engageable with said head end of said catch element in a snap-locking position, and a retainer block engageable with said clasp member, said block having an aperture extending therethrough for receiving said tongue with ends of said sections extending outwardly of the block to engage the catch element, said block having a groove parallel to said aperture for receiving said back wall of the clasp member when the tongue sections are engaged with said catch element.

2. A snap-lock device for interchanging a jewelry ornament and mounting, comprising a clasp member including a U-shaped frame with a flat back, said back being securable upon a portion of said ornament, a pair of opposing lateral walls extending outwardly of said fiat back, one of said lateral walls being apertured and having an integral catch element, said catch element extending inwardly of said frame toward the other lateral wall, said element having a free head end, a split tongue having a yoke end hinged to a free end of the other lateral wall, said tongue having spaced sections formed with opposing indentations at free ends thereof engageable with the head end of the catch element to define a closure for said frame, and a rectangular retainer block having end walls securable to said mounting, a first pair of opposing faces adjacent to the end walls, said block having a rectangular aperture extending therethrough between the rst pair of faces for receiving said tongue with free ends of the tongue sections extending outwardly of one face of the first pair of faces to engage the head end of the catch element, said block having a second pair of opposing faces with a groove in one face of the second pair of faces for receiving said flat back of the frame.

3. A snap-lock device for interchanging a jewelry ornament and mounting, comprising a clasp member including a U-shaped frame with a fiat back, said back being securable upon a portion of said ornament, a pair of opposing lateral walls extending outwardly of said fiat back, one of said lateral walls being apertured and having an integral catch element, said catch element extending inwardly of said frame toward the other lateral wall, said element having a free head end, a split tongue having a yoke end hinged to a free end of the other lateral wall, said tongue having spaced sections formed with opposing indentations at free ends thereof engageable with the head end of the catch element to define a closure for said frame, and a rectangular retainer block having a first pair of opposing faces securable to said mounting, a second pair of opposing faces adjacent to the first faces, said block having a rectangular aperture extending therethrough between the second pair of faces for receiving said tongue with free ends of the tongue sections extending outwardly of one face of the second pair of faces to engage the head end of the catch element, said block having a third pair of opposing faces with a groove in one face of the third pair of faces for receiving said flat back of the frame, said one face of the second pair of faces having aligned notches formed therein and terminating at said aperture, said notches providing clearance for the catch element when the tongue is rotated with the block engaged thereon to engage the tongue with the catch element.

4. A snap-lock device for interchanging a jewelry ornament and mounting, comprising a clasp member including a U-shaped frame with a flat back, said back being securable upon a portion of said ornament, a pair of opposing lateral walls extending outwardly of said fiat back, one of said lateral walls being apertured and having an integral catch element, said catch element extending inwardly of said frame toward the other lateral Wall, and a tongue hinged to a free end of the other lateral wall for engagement with said catch element to define a closure for said frame, and a rectangular retainer block having end walls securable to said mounting, a first pair of opposing faces adjacent to the end walls, said block having an aperture extending therethrough between the first pair of faces for receiving said tongue with a free end of the tongue extending outwardly of one face of the second pair of faces to engage the catch element, said block having a second pair of opposing faces with a groove in one face of the second pair of faces for receiving said flat back of the frame when the tongue is engaged with said catch element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 700,637 Frey May 20, 1902 1,397,056 Sauerwald Nov. 15, 1921 1,754,959 Matushenko Apr. 15, 1930 1,844,131 Lichtenfels Feb. 9, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 148,701 France 1882 16,401 Great Britain Nov. 29, 1887 118,787 Switzerland Jan. 17, 1927 

1. A SNAP-LOCK DEVICE FOR INTERCHANING A JEWELRY ORNAMENT AND MOUNTING, COMPRISING A CLASP MEMBER INCLUDING A GENERALLY U-SHAPED FRAME WITH A BACK WALL AND OUTWARDLY EXTENDING OPPOSING LATERAL WALLS, A CATCH ELEMENT EXTENDING INWARDLY OF SAID FRAME FROM ONE OF SAID OPPOSING LATERAL WALLS, SAID CATCH ELEMENT HAVING A FREE HEAD END, A TONGUE HAVING ONE END HINGED TO THE OTHER OF SAID OPPOSING LATERAL WALLS, SAID TONGUE HAVING SPLIT SECTIONS FLEXIBLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HEAD END OF SAID CATCH ELEMENT IN A SNAP-LOCKING POSITION, AND A RETAINER BLOCK ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CLASP MEMBER, SAID BLOCK HAVING AN APERTURE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH FOR RECEIVING SAID TONGUE WITH ENDS OF SAID SECTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF THE BLOCK TO ENGAGE THE CATCH ELEMENT, SAID BLOCK HAVING A GROOVE PARALLEL TO SAID APERTURE FOR RECEIVING SAID BACK WALL OF THE CLASP MEMBER WHEN THE TONGUE SECTIONS ARE ENGAGED WITH SAID CATCH ELEMENT. 